The Monthly Sky Guide

Now in its third edition and updated with planet positions for a five-year period from 1993 to 1997, the highly acclaimed Monthly Sky Guide remains the essential beginners' guide to the night sky. Expertly and lucidly written in nontechnical language, it is the first book any nonspecialist stargazer needs for practical identification with the naked eye. It contains clear maps of the sky for each month of the year, realistically depicting the stars visible to the naked eye and uniquely featuring a symbol of a clenched fist to show the scale. With the help of these clear and easy-to-read charts, the stars and constellations visible on any night of the year in the Northern hemisphere between 30 and 60 degrees North can be identified. In addition, specific constellations of interest are treated in detail for each month, with a map and descriptions of selected objects, showpiece stars, clusters, nebulae, and galaxies for viewing with binoculars or a small telescope. There are notes on regular meteor showers and the changing positions of the planets are given to 1997.

The fifth edition of Ian Ridpath and Wil Tirion's famous guide to the night sky is updated for planet positions and forthcoming eclipses up to the end of the year 2004. The book contains a chapter on each month of the year and is an invaluable companion for star-gazers.